KNOWING

",,,We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." (1 Corinthians 8:1b-2)

I'm a huge advocate of Bible study. I wish more believers would read the Scriptures to learn things. In fact, even immature believers know SOMETHING about God, His ways, and so on. It’s good to have a library of God-facts inside our heads. However, I don't see that as the end game of knowing the Word of God.

You can read a brochure about me. I can supply you with a synopsis of what I believe and how I live. You can memorize that but you won't know ME.

You'll merely know ABOUT ME.

When it came to God, this was not satisfying for the Apostle Paul:

"All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life." (Philippians 3:10a - CEV)

According to 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 knowledge when it stands apart from love from God "puffs up"; it generates pridefulness. In contrast, real love combined with knowing builds people up; it doesn't tear people down.

And that's how we can tell if a person is filled with knowledge but doesn't know and understand and walk in the love of God: they are prideful and arrogant and do and say things which reveals their lack of love. They will be hurtful and instead of building another up they will tear people down and apart.

A heart of love ALWAYS tries to discern the other's needs and does its best to meet those needs. A heart of knowledge alone is cold, calculating, manipulative and is always seeking approval which congratulates it on its knowledge.

"If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself." (Romans 15:1-3a)

So, it’s good to know about God; but it is superior to both know ABOUT GOD and to KNOW GOD. The only way we can be brought to that level of spiritual maturity is to spend time with God in a spirit of humility.

If, in all our knowledge, we think we have arrived at knowledgeable perfection...we're done growing until we repent of that idea. Our spiritual advancement in Christ will be retarded. Why? God hates pride precisely because it hurts us and others through us.

He will neither approve of nor empower that attitude.  How will we be able to tell if we know God? We will love others more and care less about "being right" in our knowing.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19 - NKJV)

John tells us that God IS the embodiment of real love. (1 John 4:8; 16)

Let's endeavor to know more information about God, how He operates, how He approaches people with THEIR needs in mind and how HIS commandments are for OUR benefit and well-being. Let's “imitate God” (Ephesians 5:1) and then let's "walk in love" (Ephesians 5:2)

Let's give the people around us an opportunity to see the LORD working through us - instead of displaying our arrogance and pride.

"What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!" (1 Corinthians 13:1-8a - CEV)

Submitted in the love of the Lord for the building up of the body of Christ.

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

Decatur, TX  76234

© April 23, 2026